Brirish Journal of Urology (1975), 41, 334
Short Case ReDort
Scrota1 Skin Necrosis following Snake Bite An Adivasi boy aged 5 , with local necrosis of the right side of the scrotal skin, was admitted with a history of being bitten by a snake on his scrotum 3 days previously. The snake first entangled his feet while playing in a paddy field and when he tried to throw it off, he was bitten. The snake was killed by people who witnessed the scene. He was treated by witchcraft and a quack. The boy developed fever with red painful swelling of the scrotum within 12 hours, and ulceration of the scrotal skin after 2 days (see Figure). There was no history of any irritant application. By daily dressing and parenteral antibiotics, &hewound healed gradually. Tetanus Toxoid was also given. The testis and cords were normal clinically.
Comments The interesting feature of this case was the rare site of the snake bite, which resulted in local necrosis with no systemic manifestations (neurotoxic or haemorrhagic). Most probably, the snake was non-poisonous; if it was poisonous, either the toxin was not injected at all or the dose was sublethal and sufficient only to cause local necrosis.
s. N.SINHA Department of Surgery, Rajendra Medical College Hospital, Ranchi-9, India
334
Short Case ReDort
Scrota1 Skin Necrosis following Snake Bite An Adivasi boy aged 5 , with local necrosis of the right side of the scrotal skin, was admitted with a history of being bitten by a snake on his scrotum 3 days previously. The snake first entangled his feet while playing in a paddy field and when he tried to throw it off, he was bitten. The snake was killed by people who witnessed the scene. He was treated by witchcraft and a quack. The boy developed fever with red painful swelling of the scrotum within 12 hours, and ulceration of the scrotal skin after 2 days (see Figure). There was no history of any irritant application. By daily dressing and parenteral antibiotics, &hewound healed gradually. Tetanus Toxoid was also given. The testis and cords were normal clinically.
Comments The interesting feature of this case was the rare site of the snake bite, which resulted in local necrosis with no systemic manifestations (neurotoxic or haemorrhagic). Most probably, the snake was non-poisonous; if it was poisonous, either the toxin was not injected at all or the dose was sublethal and sufficient only to cause local necrosis.
s. N.SINHA Department of Surgery, Rajendra Medical College Hospital, Ranchi-9, India
334
